October marks the Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an annual health campaign to increase awareness, early detection, and treatment of the deadly disease.
It is the most common form of cancer that affects women all over the world
Research from the past year reveals that making significant lifestyle changes can reduce the risk of breast cancer amongst women.
Say No to Using Smartphones at Night
Earlier this year, a European research stated that night-time exposure to blue light emitted from smartphones and tablets is directly linked with an increased risk of developing breast and prostate cancer.
Experts and doctors have warned against using the bright light and blue light from computer and phone screens for at least two hours before going to bed. This will help avoid the negative effect of blue light on sleep.
Leading Pakistani Celebrities Join Fight Against Breast Cancer
Develop a Habit of Eating Dinner Early
Spanish researchers have discovered that people who wait two or more hours after dinner before heading to bed have around a 20 percent lower risk of breast or prostate cancer, compared with people who slept immediately after.
Leaving at least two hours after eating before bedtime also lowered the risk of cancer, with eating dinner before 9 pm providing a similar protective effect when compared with eating the evening meal after 10 pm.
Live in greener spaces
According to a European study, living around green spaces such as parks and gardens can also diminish a woman’s risk of breast cancer.
The study revealed that there was a direct relationship between the distance from green spaces and breast cancer risk.
Avoid night shift
A team of international researches surveyed more than 13,000 women in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, and Spain. It revealed that the risk of developing breast cancer increases with the number of hours worked per night, as well as the number of years spent on the night shift.
Women who worked at least three hours between midnight and 5 am every night had a 12 percent greater risk of developing breast cancer than women who had never worked at night, and among pre-menopausal women, this risk increased to 26 percent.
However, the good news is the risk appeared to decrease two years after stopping night shift work.
Eat 5.5 portions of fruit and vegetables
Researchers from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, studied 182,145 women aged 27 to 59 years old and found that women who have a habit of including 5.5 servings of fruits and vegetables each day had an 11 percent lower risk of breast cancer than those who ate 2.5 or fewer servings.
The serving was defined as one cup of raw leafy vegetables, half a cup of raw or cooked vegetables, or half a cup of chopped or cooked fruits.
Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and yellow and orange vegetables were also found to be particularly beneficial.
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